Meadows Field to Columbia Regional BFL → COU
1,296 nautical miles (1,491 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 073°, about 059° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 51-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:49 am CDT (09:49 UTC), after sunset at the destination. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 2 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.
The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words
Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of
- SIGMET 6W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 34,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 8:55 pm PDT (03:55 UTC). Over the route from 528 to 738 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 120155 MKCW WST 120155 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 6W VALID UNTIL 0355Z CO NM FROM 50SSW DEN-30NNE TBE-50SSW CME-50E SJN-20NE DVC-50SSW DEN AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL340.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 40 to 160 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 120 to 459 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 169 to 778 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 199 to 469 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 209 to 738 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 229 to 369 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 528 to 668 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 548 to 678 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 788 to 1186 nm out.
A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from BFL.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 11 forecast points nearest it (WJF, LAS, BCE, FMN, ALS, PUB, GLD, GCK, SLN, MKC, COU). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 210° at 30 kt | −18 kt | 13 °C | 138 kt | 9 h 23 min | 6:37 am CDT (11:37 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | −20 kt | 13 °C | 140 kt | 9 h 15 min | 6:29 am CDT (11:29 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | −22 kt | 10 °C | 142 kt | 9 h 08 min | 6:22 am CDT (11:22 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | −24 kt | 5 °C | 144 kt | 9 h | 6:14 am CDT (11:14 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | −26 kt | 1 °C | 146 kt | 8 h 53 min | 6:07 am CDT (11:07 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | −28 kt | -4 °C | 148 kt | 8 h 45 min | 5:59 am CDT (10:59 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 34 kt | −29 kt | -8 °C | 149 kt | 8 h 42 min | 5:56 am CDT (10:56 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 35 kt | −30 kt | -9 °C | 150 kt | 8 h 38 min | 5:52 am CDT (10:52 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 37 kt | −33 kt | -20 °C | 153 kt | 8 h 28 min | 5:42 am CDT (10:42 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 53 kt | −48 kt | -29 °C | 168 kt | 7 h 43 min | 4:57 am CDT (09:57 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 54 kt | −50 kt | -37 °C | 170 kt | 7 h 37 min | 4:51 am CDT (09:51 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 52 kt | −51 kt | -47 °C | 171 kt | 7 h 35 min | 4:49 am CDT (09:49 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.
The forecast points as issued
| Point | From | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 34,000 | 39,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WJF | used from 0 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 220/30 8° | 240/28 5° | 230/34 -2° | 220/34 -13° | 220/48 -20° | 220/47 -29° | 210/48 -34° | 220/52 -44° | |
| LAS | used from 100 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 200/25 11° | 230/22 5° | 240/25 -1° | 220/37 -12° | 220/44 -21° | 210/52 -27° | 210/60 -34° | 220/58 -44° | |
| BCE | used from 299 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 210/47 0° | 200/50 -12° | 220/31 -23° | 220/56 -26° | 220/58 -35° | 230/58 -45° | |||
| FMN | used from 449 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 220/25 13° | 220/28 4° | 210/51 -9° | 220/59 -21° | 230/78 -30° | 230/77 -36° | 230/66 -46° | ||
| ALS | used from 598 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 210/32 5° | 230/48 -8° | 230/49 -20° | 230/78 -30° | 240/74 -36° | 240/61 -47° | |||
| PUB | used from 698 nm out; 14 nm from the line | 210/24 16° | 210/28 8° | 230/43 -8° | 240/42 -21° | 240/77 -30° | 240/72 -36° | 250/51 -47° | ||
| GLD | used from 798 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 190/29 | 200/30 15° | 240/23 8° | 250/39 -7° | 230/39 -19° | 230/57 -31° | 240/67 -39° | 250/62 -49° | |
| GCK | used from 847 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 200/35 21° | 220/34 14° | 240/30 8° | 240/27 -6° | 240/31 -17° | 240/53 -30° | 250/55 -39° | 250/60 -50° | |
| SLN | used from 947 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 190/37 | 220/39 20° | 240/31 14° | 250/24 7° | 260/25 -7° | 250/26 -17° | 250/44 -31° | 260/47 -40° | 260/47 -50° |
| MKC | used from 1097 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 200/28 | 220/30 16° | 270/20 11° | 280/22 7° | 260/27 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 280/38 -32° | 270/38 -40° | 280/50 -52° |
| COU | used from 1246 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 210/16 | 220/19 15° | 240/33 10° | 250/29 7° | 280/21 -6° | 280/19 -18° | 300/34 -31° | 300/40 -42° | 300/60 -52° |
The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BFL Bakersfield, CA | departure | no report just now | 509 ft | ||||
| IYK Inyokern, CA | 60 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line | no report just now | 2,457 ft | ||||
| VGT Las Vegas, NV | 189 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,205 ft | ||||
| PGA Page, AZ | 379 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | no report just now | 4,316 ft | ||||
| BDG Blanding, UT | 479 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | no report just now | 5,867 ft | ||||
| RCV Del Norte, CO | 628 nm out, 7 nm south of the line | no report just now | 7,955 ft | ||||
| PUB Pueblo, CO | 718 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,729 ft | ||||
| TQK Scott City, KS | 887 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 2,968 ft | ||||
| GBD Great Bend, KS | 987 nm out, 14 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,886 ft | ||||
| IXD Olathe, KS | 1166 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,087 ft | ||||
| OJC Olathe, KS | 1176 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,096 ft | ||||
| COU Columbia, MO | destination | no report just now | 889 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,955 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At COU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:49 am CDT (09:49 UTC)
COU has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8783 38NM NE BAKERSFIELD, CA, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Friday, October 23, 2026 UTC 4 nm from the route, at the departure end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 23 October · ZLA
- 6/8890 LAS VEGAS, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 169 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA
- 6/8808 Las Vegas, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 14 nm from the route, 199 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZLA
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 19 nm from the route, at the destination end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at BFL 6:25 pm PDT (01:25 UTC), at COU 6:35 pm CDT (23:35 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm CDT (00:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at COU is before sunrise there (7:15 am CDT (12:15 UTC)).
Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.
Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads
Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: Meadows Field, Columbia Regional.